CPI hits 5.1 per cent in March, highest in 8 years

April 19, 2017 14:42 MYT

The CPI for the month under review was the highest since November 2008, when it rose by 5.7 per cent, it said. - FILEpic

KUALA LUMPUR: The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation, rose by 5.1 per cent in March 2017 to 119.6, owing to the low base last year and higher fuel retail prices compared to March 2016, said the Statistics Department.

The CPI for the month under review was the highest since November 2008, when it rose by 5.7 per cent, it said.

The department said the core inflation, however, remained stable at 2.5 per cent.

Among the major groups which contributed to the CPI increase were transport (+23 per cent), food & non-alcoholic beverages (+4.1 per cent), recreation services & culture (+3.0 per cent), health (+2.6 per cent), restaurants and hotels (+2.3 per cent) and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, it said.

"The transport group index showed a significant increase due to the base effect of low transport group index in March 2016 and the increase in fuel prices in March 2017.

"The average price of 1 litre of RON95 petrol was RM2.29 in March 2017 compared to RM1.60 in March 2016. As for RON97, the average price increased to RM2.59 in March 2017 compared to RM1.95 in March 2016," it said.